Snake River’s Clancy Thomas (21) keeps the ball away from Sugar-Salem’s Parker Miller during overtime in the 3A state championship game March 4 at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa. Sugar-Salem won 71-69. Otto KitsingerThe Associated Press

Snake River’s Clancy Thomas (21) keeps the ball away from Sugar-Salem’s Parker Miller during overtime in the 3A state championship game March 4 at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa. Sugar-Salem won 71-69. Otto KitsingerThe Associated Press

3A All-Idaho boys basketball team: Snake River junior garners player of year honors

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: CLANCY THOMAS, SNAKE RIVER

Why he is Player of the Year: The athletic 6-foot-6 junior wing heralded for his versatile play had a great touch around the basket, averaging 15.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 63 percent from inside the arc. Led the Panthers to a state runner-up finish.

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Watch as Kolby Lee of Rocky Mountain, Tori Williams of Centennial and Lydia Nieto of Bishop Kelly talk about their season and their love of basketball Kyle Greenkgreen@idahostatesman.com

HAYDEN WOOD, SUGAR-SALEM

Known for his pure shooting ability, the 5-11 senior guard made the big shots at critical times for the state champions. Wood averaged 11.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 43 percent from 3-point range.

PARKER MILLER, SUGAR-SALEM

Described as the “glue” for the state champions by Sugar-Salem coach Shawn Freeman, the 6-4 senior forward stood out defensively against bigger, taller opponents. Miller averaged 13.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.1 assists per game.

BRYSON COMSTOCK, GOODING

The 5-9 senior point guard led the Senators to the state tournament after a 31-year drought. Comstock averaged 17.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 1.3 assists per game despite being at the forefront of every opponent’s game plan.

ALBERTO SANCHEZ, WEISER

The 3A Snake River Valley Player of the Year carried the Wolverines to the consolation title and finished with more than 1,000 career points. Despite facing double teams, the 6-3 senior wing averaged 18.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 steals per game.

COACH OF THE YEAR: SHAWN FREEMAN, SUGAR-SALEM

Freeman guided the Diggers (20-5) to their first state championship since 1994.

SECOND TEAM

Player

School

Height

Year

Position

Stats

Bridger Bumgarner

Weiser

6-1

Senior

Guard

15.3 ppg, 10.1 reb, 4.2 ast

Payton Pinz

Parma

6-2

Senior

Wing

14.4 ppg, 10.7 reb

Blake Bartschi

South Fremont

6-6

Senior

Forward

14.3 ppg, 11.4 reb, 3.5 ast

Jim Elkin

Buhl

6-4

Senior

Forward

13.7 ppg, 9.6 reb, 3.1 ast

Chase Jerome

Kellogg

6-0

Junior

Guard

14.0 ppg, 6.2 reb, 3.0 ast

How are the teams selected?

The All-Idaho teams are selected by a statewide coaches’ vote. Coaches are asked to nominate their own players for their classification’s All-Idaho teams. They then vote on a ballot built from those nominations. The Idaho Statesman tabulates the votes and publishes the results.